Phl controller mistakenly climbs an E145 to an occupied altitude, resulting in an operational error.

Attributes
ACN	582286
Time
Date	200305
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ptw.vortac
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 8 controller radar : 14
ASRS Report	582286
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : supervisor
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert atc equipment other atc equipment : radar mode c other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was working both aircraft to their departure fix. I was climbing one to 12000 ft (I thought 13000 ft), and switched his frequency. I then climbed the other aircraft to 12000 ft and switched his frequency, not realizing my mistake. Only after hearing the tapes did I realize my error. I reported the incident to my supervisor immediately. After investigating the next day, I was told that there was not a loss of separation, despite what I saw and reported. I was told that it could have been an altitude inconsistency or something else. I did not listen to the tapes, but was told by second level supervisor that I had climbed the E145 to 12000 ft, only I was told the investigation was complete. The following week after working the boards, on may/tue/03, I was told that there was a loss of separation, and an operational error had occurred. I do not know what action the center controller or pilots of the aircraft had to take. I do not know if usual separation was applied.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PHL CTLR MISTAKENLY CLBS AN E145 TO AN OCCUPIED ALT, RESULTING IN AN OPERROR.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING BOTH ACFT TO THEIR DEP FIX. I WAS CLBING ONE TO 12000 FT (I THOUGHT 13000 FT), AND SWITCHED HIS FREQ. I THEN CLBED THE OTHER ACFT TO 12000 FT AND SWITCHED HIS FREQ, NOT REALIZING MY MISTAKE. ONLY AFTER HEARING THE TAPES DID I REALIZE MY ERROR. I RPTED THE INCIDENT TO MY SUPVR IMMEDIATELY. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE NEXT DAY, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOT A LOSS OF SEPARATION, DESPITE WHAT I SAW AND RPTED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN ALT INCONSISTENCY OR SOMETHING ELSE. I DID NOT LISTEN TO THE TAPES, BUT WAS TOLD BY SECOND LEVEL SUPVR THAT I HAD CLBED THE E145 TO 12000 FT, ONLY I WAS TOLD THE INVESTIGATION WAS COMPLETE. THE FOLLOWING WEEK AFTER WORKING THE BOARDS, ON MAY/TUE/03, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A LOSS OF SEPARATION, AND AN OPERROR HAD OCCURRED. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT ACTION THE CTR CTLR OR PLTS OF THE ACFT HAD TO TAKE. I DO NOT KNOW IF USUAL SEPARATION WAS APPLIED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.